The BPU is raising funds to purchase rechargeable battery-powered electric hub motors as a safety measure for the patrol bicycles. This technology will allow our Police Cyclists to quickly and efficiently respond in an emergency to a call anywhere within the city without risk of overexertion. These systems will also allow our Police Cyclists to have more flexibility in how often they are able to patrol. For officer safety reasons, our Police Cyclists usually only patrol when there are at least two other officers on duty in patrol cars, which are able to back one another up on calls in an emergency. With these systems in place, our Police Cyclists will be able to patrol when only one other officer is on duty in a patrol car, thus increasing the amount of time our Police Cyclists can be out in the community. Also, with soaring gas prices, these systems will save taxpayers money by allowing more patrol time on the bikes and less in the cars.

This project is the
primary fundraising priority for the BPU. Please help us
reach our goal to purchase these systems by making a
donation to the Mobridge Police Department Bike Patrol
Unit!

Click
the "Donate" button above to quickly, safely, and
securely make a donation to the Mobridge Police
Department Bike Patrol Unit online via PayPal™ using a
major credit card or your PalPal™ account!

Checks can be made to:

MPD
Community Policing Programs Fund
110 1st Ave E
Mobridge, SD 57601

Donations may also be dropped off at the address above.
Please be sure to notate that the funding is for the Bike
Patrol Unit by writing "Bike Patrol Donation" in the memo area of the
check, so the funds
can be earmarked appropriately. Thank you!

The four videos below show the
new upgraded LED emergency light system on Officer Larsen's
patrol bicycle. The new system was designed by Officer Larsen
and utilizes third-generation light emitting diodes and
operates on a rechargeable 12 volt nickel-metal hydride "water
bottle" battery. This new system increases officer safety,
because it is very effective at warning and getting the
attention of motorists and pedestrians during the day as well
as at night. Both patrol bicycles have this upgraded LED
emergency light system in use.

The Mobridge
Police Department Bike Patrol Unit (BPU) was
established in 2005 by former Officer Tony Larsen as a way to
better interact with the community and to enhance the
ability of officers to detect and deter criminal activity.
The BPU is a volunteer unit and BPU equipment is funded
solely by
donations from the public.

A second patrol
bicycle was purchased in 2008, with the addition of a second
Police Cyclist, former Officer Shawn Fox. Officer Fox was with the BPU for three seasons.

Officer
Jordan Majeske is the current BPU Coordinator. Officer Majeske is excited about bike
patrol and anticipates having fun and meeting many people
during this season.

Using bicycles
to patrol promotes the department's community oriented
policing philosophy by allowing officers
to be more accessible to the public compared to patrolling in
traditional patrol vehicles. It also allows officers to be more mobile
compared to foot
patrol. Patrolling on bicycles also allows officers to be
stealthier when responding to incidents requiring the officers to be discrete about their presence.

The BPU is
active typically from April through October, weather permitting.
BPU Police Cyclists perform full police patrol functions
just like other officers, but on bicycles. BPU Police
Cyclists patrol the entire City of Mobridge, giving
special attention to the City parks system, the Mobridge
Pool, the City sports complexes, the Main Street & Grand
Crossing business districts, motels, the drive-in movie theater, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail walking
and biking areas, as
well as at special events.

The police patrol bikes
are authorized
emergency vehicles, as defined by SDCL 32-14-1(2). Police
Cyclists do conduct both vehicle traffic stops and
pedestrian stops while on patrol. Vehicles and
pedestrians must yield and stop for the patrol bicycles when
the red & blue emergency lights and/or audible siren
are/is activated, just as with any other authorized emergency
vehicle. Police Cyclists may also issue voice commands.
Failure to comply with the laws regarding interaction with
emergency vehicles and directions of a police officer may
result in the issuance of citations for the law violations
and, under certain circumstances, may subject pedestrians to
a Fleeing from Police charge and vehicle drivers to an
Eluding Police charge.

As stated
before, the BPU is funded solely by donations from the
public. The BPU is grateful to the public for having the
generosity to allow the program to expand to what it is
today! However, the BPU still needs continued public
financial support to cover costs for training and maintenance of the bikes and
equipment.

One of
the attractive things about having police officers on
bicycles is the much lower operating cost compared to the
cost of purchasing a patrol car, with regular
maintenance and fuel usage. Comparatively, several bike
officers can be fully equipped for the same price as one
officer in a patrol car. With soaring gas prices, the BPU
program offsets some of that operating cost.

If you would like to make
a monetary donation to the BPU or would like more
information, please contact BPU Coordinator Jordan Majeske
through
this email link or call
605-845-5000. Donation checks can be made payable to the MPD
Community Policing Fund. Please write "Bike Patrol
Donation" in the memo area of the check to assist
with proper accounting and tracking of donated funds.